High-speed cover feed



Dec. 25, 1951 J. SIMPSON 2,579,976

I HIGH-SPEED COVER FEED Filed Jan. 24, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS Dec. 25, 1951 J $|MP$QN 2,579,976

. HIGH-SPEED. COVER FEED Filed Jan. 24, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Juslz'n m/D5072,

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1366- 1951 J. SIMPSON HIGH-SPEED COVER'FEED 4 Sheets-sheaf. 3

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Filed Jan. 24, 1949 ATTORNEYS- Dec. 25, 1951 J. SIMPSON 2,579,976

HIGH-SPEED COVER FEED Filed Jan. 24, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Dec. 25, 1951 LINE-TED STATES.

HIGH-SPEED COVER FEED Justin Simpson, Elmhurst, 111., assignor to (Jontinental, Can Gompany, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporationof New York Application Januar-y24, 1949, Serial No. 72,328

17 Claims. 113-114) The invention relates generally tothe art: of packaging. products in. cans and primarily seeks, to provide a novel cover feeding means capable of positively, rapidly andunfailingly. depositing covers one by one from astack in position. for being received by transfer devices which. place them in proper association with the cans. to be covered thereby.

More specifically the invention seeksto provide a novel cover feed means capable of operating positively and accurately at exceptionally high speeds and in which are included cooperating rotary feeder screws of. novel design, and. novel: means for discontinuing thefeeding. of thecovers. whenever there is a break in the. continuity of the feeding of complementary cans, and for automatically resuming the feeding. of covers when. cansfor receiving the covers are again fed. Cover feeds employing rotary feed. screws have been.

provided heretofore, and. no-can, no-cover feed. 20

controls also have; been used, but such feeds and. controls have not been entirely satisfactory because of lack of adaptability to the high speed; demands in the more modern closing. machines,

and the controls referred to. have been, found 25 somewhat objectionable because they required a declutching of drive connections. and aresul'tanti stopping of the feed screws. Also, known; feed. screws were so designed as to cause. objectionable jiggling and bouncing of coversin the stack, not infrequently causing jams, and they were, so coordinated with the cooperating control devices as to require delayed control timing in which a given fed can would effect. the release of. a cover to be applied on a succeeding can. It is; a purpose of the present invention to provide novel cover feed and control means of the character stated wherein all said objectionable features are, avoided.

An object of the invention is to provide. in cover feed means of the character stated cooperating feed screws which. are rotated continuously and which are so constructed and arranged; that they effect the feeding of the covers. one. by one accurately, rapidly and positively and without any lifting action effective to jiggle. the stack or bounce covers thereof;

Another object of the invention; is to provide cover feed means of the character stated in which each feed screw includes a. single. high pitch part helix groove eiiective to positively feed the. covers downwardly, each said groove being concavedto conform in shape to the cover edge curl portion engaging therein, horizontally and in line con? tact, so. that the. screws. cooperate in positively holding each cover horizontally and againsttilting as .it is being feddownwardly.

Another object of the invention is to. provide cover feedmeans of the character statedinwhich the single; high pitch. grooves. in the feed screws and; the. control. devices. are coordinated; so that a cover isdeposited as a. resultof; each fullrotationv of the screws of the multiple. complement, and. each cover will. be fed: to be received upon the can which. actuated the control. devices to make. the screws activefor feeding that particu-. lar cover..

'Another object of the invention is to providecover feed. and control means of the character stated wherein are included projectable, and: re; tractablev supporting. lugs which when projected by the control devices. incidental to a. break in the continuity of feeding of cans. will; take over the supporting of the stack of covers and: permit the screws to rotate ineffectually so long as the break in. can. feeding continues, and. which-When again retracted incidental to a resumption of the. regular. feeding of. canswill return the screws to eilectiveness in supporting and feeding the covers. of thestack...

With the above and other objects in view. that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed; description, the appended claims, and the, several: views illustrated in the accompanying drawings;

In the drawings:

Figure I is a. somewhat diagrammatic'plan view illustrating the invention inposition for feeding covers to a cover and; can transfer'means which in, turn delivers. the cover and can complements toa closingmachine.

Figure. 2 is. an, enlarged plan/view illustratingv the cover feed means per se. v V

Figure 3 is aninverted plan view showing. the housing body per se.

Figure 4 is a View similar to Figure 3 and illustrating the lug shifter ring in position in the receiving recess in the bottom of the housing body.

Figure 5 is a vertical cross section taken on the line 55 on Figure 2'.

Figure 6 is a vertical cross section taken on the line 6-6, on Figure 2.

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail plan view illustrating one. of the cover feed screws, a. fragment of a cover disposed to engage in the cover feed groove, also being shown.

Figure 8 is anedse i w h fe d sc ew shown in Figure '7, looking toward the cover feed groove therein.

Figure 9 is an inverted plan view of the feed screw shown in Figures '7 and 8.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary vertical edge section taken on the line Ill-l on Figure '7.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary vertical edge section taken on the line li-H on Figure 1.

Figure 12 is a fragmentary vertical edge section taken on the line i2l2 on Figure '7, a portion of a stack of covers being shown as resting on the screw shoulder.

Figure 13 is a fragmentary plan view and part horizontal section illustrating one of the stack supporting lugs swung to its normal, retracted position.

Figure 14 is a vertical cross section taken on the line l4l l on Figure 13.

In the somewhat diagrammatic illustration in Figure 1 there is shown one practical adaptation of the invention as a means for feeding covers into position for being rapidly transferred to a closing machine, along with the complementary cans to be closed thereby. In this illustration, 2. can feeding means is generally designated A, the cover stack or feed devices are generally designated B, "the no-can, no-cover feed control is generally designated C, the can and cover transferring means or turret is generally designated D, and the closing and discharging turrets of a six-spindle closing machine are diagrammatically indicated, the closing turret being generally designated E and the closed can discharging turret being generally designated F. It is to be understood that the closing and discharging turret structures are conventional and form no part of the present invention. The can and cover transferring devices likewise form no part of the present invention, they having been covered in the copending application for U. S. Letters Patent entitled High Speed Cover Transfer Means, filed September 28, 1948, by Justin Simpson and Ralph M. Mero, and identified by Serial No. 51,626, now Patent No. 2,516,653, issued July 25, 1950, and the present application is directed to the cover feeding means per se and the combination thereof with the no-can, no-c-over control means.

In the practical development of the invention there is included a housing body 5 having a central cover well 6 which is of a diameter for freely receiving the stack of covers which is to be fed one by one, downwardly, in a manner to be described in detail hereinafter. It will be apparent by reference to Figures 3, 4 and 5 of the drawings that the housing body is provided with a bottom face recess 1 and a deeper radial recess 8, the latter extending into a side enlargement or extension 9 which is equipped with an arcuate slot l5, and also with a bearing hub l l at its outer end extremity. Finger clearances 12 are provided in the side walls of the housing body well 6, and ear extensions I3 are provided through which the housing may be screw secured as at I4 upon the cover feed bracket or support plate l5. While the cover feeding means shown in detail in Figures 2, 5 and '7 may be supported in any approved manner, and adapted for feeding covers one by one to any suitable receiving means, it is preferred that it be adapted to use in connection with the high speed cover and can feeding and assembling devices disclosed in the previously mentioned copending application for U. S. Letters Patent. For this reason no attempt is made herein to disclose any particular driving connections for coordinating the operation of the cover feeding devices and the several turrets, these having been disclosed in the said copending application.

It will be apparent by reference to Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings that the cover feed bracket or support plate I5 is equipped with a recess IS in which to receive the annular upstanding flange ll of the bottom closure plate l8, and the flange I? also is equipped with an outwardly extending mounting flange l9 which is interposed between the undersurface of the housing body manner clearly illustrated in Figure 6.

5 and the top surface of the plate is and is screw secured as at 26 to said housing body in the The bottom plate I8 is provided with screw clearing cut-outs or recesses 2i, and the center opening or edge portion 22 is aligned with the well 6 of the housing body 5 in the manner clearly illustrated in Figures 5 and 6. Within the flange ill and above the bottom plate It there is provided a chamber 23 into which three upstanding pivot pins 25 project from the bottom plate, said pins being riveted or otherwise secured to said plate in the manner clearly illustrated in Figure 5. Three support lugs 25 forming parts of the no-can, no-cover control devices are pivotally mounted on the pins 24, and it will be apparent by reference to Figures 2 and 13 of the drawings that said lugs have cover clearing corner cutoffs 26 at their inner ends, and at their outer ends are forked or slotted as at 21 to receive slide blocks 28 which in turn are vertically bored to receive actuator pins 28 which depend from the actuator ring 39 mounted for oscillation with.- in the chamber 23 in the manner clearly illustrated in Figures 4, 5 and 6 of the drawings.

The actuator ring 30 has a radial arm extension 3| attached thereto, and said arm is equipped near its outer end with a radial slot 32. The ring also has a center opening 33 which aligns with the well opening 6 in the housing body 5 in the manner clearly illustrated in Figures 2, 4 and 5 of the drawings.

The radial slot 32 in the actuator ring arm extension is adapted to receive an actuator roller 34 which projects upwardly from a crank arm 35 secured upon a rock shaft 33 which is rockable in a bearing 31 provided therefor in the housing body hub H. It will be apparent by reference to Figure 1 of the drawings that the shaft 36 also has a crank 38 secured thereon and which is adjustable-lirik connected as at 39 with a control arm 49 which is pivoted as at M upon any suitable support and. movable with the control lever 432 disposed to be engaged by cans 13 as they are being fed to the cover and can transferring turret D by the-can feeding means A. An anchored spring 44 connected with the link 39 serves to urge the lever "22 against the travelling cans, or into the path of movement of said cans, and an adjustable screw carried by the arm 45 is engageable with stop means 46 for limiting movement of the lever 52 across the can path.

An annular reduction 41 on the housing body 5 provides a clearance for receiving the rotatable ring gear iii, and the inwardly projecting toothed portion 39 of said ringprojects into an annular clearance Bil provided on said housing body in the manner clearly illustrated in Figure 5. A cover ring 51 is removably secured on the housing body 5 and projects over and protects the ring gear which is understood to be freely rotatable in its mounting on the housing body. It

will be apparent by reference to Figure 5 that the ring gear 48 and the housing. cover ring; have the same outside diameter. The housing body 5. is provided with a. single clearance. at 52in which toreceive a. driver pinion 53 which is secured on a driver shaft 54. The shaft 54 is, rotatable in a bearing 55 providedithereforin the housing body 5, and in a bearing 56. provided; therefor in the cover ring 5|. The driver shaft 54 extends be-.

low the bracket plate I 5, and as previously stated,

clearances 51. in. which to receive idler gears 58.

each. said idler gear being mounted on an idler shaft 59 which. is, rotatable ina bearing 69 provided therefor in the housing body 5, and in a bearing 6 I. provided therefor in the cover ring 5!. See Figures 2. and 6. It will be. apparent by ref.- erence to Figures 2 and: 6. of the drawings that the continuously rotating. ring gear d8, 49. will impart rotation. to the several idler gears 58. The housing body 5. also is. equipped with three clearances 62 in which to receive gears 53 disposed to. mesh. with and be driven by the idler gears 58. The drivengears 53 are fixed on shafts 64 which are rotatable. in bearings 65. provided therefor in the housing body 5, and in bearings 66 provided therefor in. the cover ring 5|. Each shaft 54 extends through the bottom of thehousing body 5. and through an arcuate slot 51. in the actuator ring 30 into the chamber 23- whereat each said shafthas a cover. feed. screw generally designated, 68 keyed thereon as. at 59 and held against its lower end. by a. screw secured cap 78. Since. the ring. gear 48,. 4.9. is continuously rotated and imparts continuous. rotation to the several idler gears 58 it will be. apparent. that the several shafts 64 and the feed. screws 88 mounted. thereon willbe continuously driven.

The oscil-latable actuator ring 3.9; may be provided with an annular clearance H. for clearing the lug mounting pivot pins 24;. and the bottom plate l8 may have a similar annular clearance 72' for accommodating movement of. the actuator: pins 2.9 which depend from said actuator plate.

It is to be noted that thefloor of the bracket plate l5- may be equipped with clearances. 13 in which to receive the several. feed screws generally designated 68, andit will bev apparentby reference to Figures 5 and 6 that the center opening is in said bracket plate aligns with the well opening- 6 in the housing. body 5. Below the bracket plate l5 aremounted the rails or tracks. l5 onto. which the covers are individually deposited byioperation of the screws 68 and. over which said. covers may be. conveyed in the manner disclosed in the previously mentioned copending applica tion for U. S. Letters Patent. 7

Thefeed screws whichhave been generally designated 68 are illustrated in. detail in. Figures '7v through 12 of the drawings. By reference. to said figures it will be apparent: that each screw includes a large base flange l6 and an upstanding central hub Ill which is bored and counterbored to receive the respective shaft 64 and securing, cap 15. Each base flange and hub portion has a cylindrical periphery except where it is cut. through by a very high. pitch part helical feeder groove 18 in the manner clearly illustrated in Figure 8. As viewed from above the-feeder groove '18 is concave and so. shaped that at any horizontal section thereof it will conform tothe external curvature of. the edge. curl of a cover which the feeder groove of each screw is. indicated at; 1.9. inFigure 7:. The overhanging, corner 8.3. at: the

entrance intothe feeder grooveof: the. main body of4eachx screwdefines one side, limitzof. the groove entrance in. said main. body, and the; corner: 8;

is. provided. where. the high pitch feeder: groove;

passesdownwardly through the flange portion [6 Itwillbe. apparentby. referenceto. Figures,- 8. and. 9 thatzthebottom surface of eachrscrew. is smooth: andfiat. as at: 82..

On top. of; each. screw; hub. 1-1 is; mounted a cut-- off plate; 83,. the. same. being removably; secured. as. at 84. on said hub. It will bev apparent. byreference. to Figures 7. and; 8. that each cut-off plate includes a: small diameter concentric; p.01?- tion 85 which. is. smaller than; the diameter; of. the. hub 11 so as. to leave a ledgeor shelf 86. out.- wardly thereof as a cover edge supporting means disposed to. support the covers. in the; manner clearly illustrated in Figure 12; Each cut-offplate 83 also includes a large diameter concen tric portion. 8'! which is. of the. samev outside diameter as the hub 71 and connects with the small. diameter concentric portion. 85. through a. downward inclined: portion 88; The. concentric portions. 8.5 and 8.7 also connect. through, a. tangential overhanging portion 90:. Theoverhang at: the tangential portion 90 is shaped to form a continuation of the high pitch feeder groove 18 and serves to provide a cut-off point 9|. The covers are designated 92.

In describing the operation of the invention 7 it will be assumed that cans 43 are being propness of each top plate 83 is identical to the depth.

of the edge curl on each cover. As the screws are continuously rotated in the manner previously described, and in the direction indicated by the arrows on Figures 2 and 7, the several top plate. points 9| will simultaneously engage over thelowermost cover 92 in the stack, or in other words between said lowermost cover and the remainder of the stack, and separate the lowermost cover from the remainder of the stack. The intersection of the helix groove with the shelf 86 provides the entrance for the cover in the hub 11 and, similarly, the intersection of the helix groove with the bottom surface 82 of the base flange 18 provides the exit for the cover from the feeder screw. The cover thus separated from theremainder of the stack by cut-01f action of the several sharp screw points 9| will be quickly and positively forced down through the high pitch part helical feeder grooves 78 and deposited on the receiving rails over which it will be conveyed for assembly on the complementary can. Immediately after the cover has been deposited on the receiving rails 75, the rotation'of the screws will bring the flat bottom surface 82 of each screw over the flange of the deposited cover and thereby prevent any rebound of the cover. While this downward feeding of the separated I cover istaking. place the lowermostcover of the supported stack and the balance of the stack.

are lowered onto the several screw ledges 86 by riding down the sloping or downwardly inclined surface 88 on the several top plates 83. It will be understood that just prior to this lowering of the stack down the top plate. inclines 88 said stack will have been supported on the ledges pro-v vided by the large diameter concentric top plate portions 81 extending between the respective cutoff points 9| and the point at which the respective lowering inclines 88 commence. It will be apparent that since the top plates 83 are of exactly the same thickness as the peripheral edge curls on the individual covers 92 the cut-off points 9| will engage between the covers at the bottom of the stack and effect the desired cutting away or separation of the lowermost cover without any incidental lifting of the overlying covers which would result in an agitation r jiggling of the stack. As previously stated, the three feeder screws are rotatedcontinuously and very rapidly and serve to positively and accurately feed the covers at a very high speed. It is to be understood that during the normal feeding of the covers, or in other words so long as cans are properly being fed into the machine, and covers into position for being received on said cans, the supporting lugs 25 will be retracted out of position for interfering with the normal feeding of covers in the manner illustrated in Figure 1.

Should there be a break in the continuity of the feeding of cans, the displacement of the lever 42 by the infeeding cans would no longer be effective and the spring e4 would serve to move the lever equipment s2, All downwardly as viewed in Figure l, and this would result in a downward movement of the crank 38 and a clockwise rocking of the shaft 36. This rocking of the shaft 36 would be attended by a movement of the crank 35 effective to cause the roller 3 to shift the actuator ring- 39 in a counterclockwise direction. This would result in a projection of the lugs 25 into the position illustrated in Figure 2 by reason of the engagement of the actuator pins 29 in the blocks 28 slidably engaging in the forked ends 2? of said lugs. The parts are so timed that this projection of the' lugs 25 would take place while the stack of covers $2 is being supported by the top flat surface of the top plates 83, and therefore as the continuously driven screws continue their rotation and the downwardly inclined portions 88 of the top plates 83 comeopposite the covers of the stack they would be ineffective to lower the stack and the supporting of said stack would be taken over by the lugs 25 while the feeder screws continue their rotation ineffectively. It will be noted by reference to Figure 5 of the drawings that the top or stack supporting surfaces of the several lugs are on the same horizontal plane as the top surfaces of the several top plates 83 of the feeder screws. By reason of the provision of the single very high pitch feeder groove on each feeder screw, one cover will be fed for each complete rotation of the screws, and thus the parts can be so cooperatively timed that each deposited cover will be fed into position for being received by the particular can which controlled its feeding. As soon as the proper feeding of cans is resumed, the control lever equip ment 12, dd would again be shifted to the position illustrated in Figure l and the resulting reverse direction shifting of the actuator ringwould bring about a retraction of the stack supporting lugs 25 so that the feeder screws 68 could again take over the proper feeding of covers. It will be understood that when the pivotally mounted ner cut-01f or angularly cut-off portions 26 of said lugs will be presented toward the peripheral edges of the covers of the stack.

In Figures 10 and 11 of the'drawings fragmentary sections taken on the lines Ill-l 0 and I l-l I on Figure 7 illustrate the line contact of a cover within the feeder groove of a single screw in different portions of said groove. As previously described, each cover engages in line contact in the bottom of each screw feedergroove as it is being stripped away from the bottom of the stack and deposited on the receiving rails, and it will be apparent by reference to Figure 10 that the engagement in the groove portion there illustrated will prevent upward tilting of the cover, whereas engagement in the portion of the groove illustrated in Figure 11 will prevent downward tilting of said cover. By reason of this particular engagement of the cover edge portions simultaneously in the feeder grooves in three screws, each said cover is accurately held in horizontal position and against tilting, as it is being fed.

It will also be noted by reference to Figures 7,'

8 and 9 of the drawings that the cut-off point is defined in part by the periphery of the large flange iii and by a sharp undercut edge lying in a horizontal plane at the top surface of the flange "l6 and extending in angular relation outwardly from the periphery of the hub 11. The fact that the covers are accurately held in a horizontal plane as they are being fed downwardly through the high pitch part helix groove 18 permits the horizontal, angularly disposed edge merging into the cut-01f point 8! to pass over the tops of the covers without ever jamming.

As previously described the spring 44 constantly tends to project the lever 42 into the path of the cans 13 being fed in processional order into the machine, and also to project the lugs 25 into the cover stack supporting position illustrated in Figure 2. So long as the lever 42 is in engagement with the infeeding procession of the cans, the lugs 25 will be held in the retracted position against the action of the spring 44, and whenever.

a break in the procession of cans occurs the lever 42 will be free to move into the space provided by the break in the can procession and the sup porting lugs 25 will be projected in the manner previously described.

While one form of the invention has been shown for purposes of illustration, it is to be clearly understood that various changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be made without departin from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of means for feeding cans, means including a plurality of feeder screws for supporting a stack of covers and feeding them one by one from the bottom of the stack for assembly on said cans, each said screw including a stack supporting horizontal portion and a positive feeder groove at least in part helical in shape and leading downwardly away from said horizontal portion, means for continuously rotating said feeder screws, projectable and retractable lugs each including a horizontal stack supporting portion at the same level as the horizontal stack supporting portions of the screws and efiective to take over the support of the cover 9 stack from the feed screws and permit the screws to rotate inefiectually when they are projected and return the support and feeding of the covers of the stack to said screws when they are retracted, and means controlled by engagement of fed cans for alternately projecting and retracting said lugs accordingly as the continuity of feeding of a line of cansadapted to receive" the covers is broken and then again resumed.

2. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of means for feeding cans, means including a plurality of feeder screws for supporting a stack of'covers and feeding them one by one from the bottom of the stack for assemineifectually when they are projected and return the support and feeding of the covers of the stack to said screws when they are retracted, means including a spring for yieldably placing and hold ing said lugs projected, and means displaceable .by contact of cans being fed in procession for retracting the lugs and holding them retracted so long as the cans are fed in unbroken procession but effective to release said lugs for projection each time one or more blank spaces occur in the procession of cans.

3. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of means for feeding cans, means including a plurality of continuously rotated feeder screws for supporting a stack of covers andfeeding them one by one from the bottom of the stack for assembly on said cans, .projectable and retractable lugs effective to take over the support of thecover stack from the feed screws and permit the screws to rotate ineifectually when they are projected and return the support and feeding of the covers of the stack to said screws when they are retracted, means including a spring for yieldably placing and holding said lugs projected, and means displaceable by contact of cans being fed in procession for retracting the lugs and holding them retracted so long as the cans are fed in unbroken procession but effective to release said lugs for projection each time one or more blank spaces occur in the procession of cans, each said screw including a out-oif portion engageable between the lowermost cover in the stack-and the one above the same upon each rotation of the screw for separating the lowermost cover from the rest of the stack and a single very high pitch part helix feeder groove effective for feeding each separated cover downwardly onto a receiving way during less than one complete revolution of the screw, said lugs being disposed with their stack supporting surfaces on the same horizontal plane with the stack supporting surfaces of the screws.

4. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of means for feeding cans, means including a plurality of continuously rotated feeder screws for supporting a stack of covers and feeding them one by one from the bottom of the stack for assembly on saidcans, projectable and retractable lugs effective to take over the support of the cover stack from the feed screws and permit the screws to rotate ineffectually when they are projected and return the support and feeding of the covers of the stack to said screws when they are retracted, the covers of the stack having curled peripheral edge portions, each said screw including a cut-off portion engageable between the lowermost cover in the stack and the one above the same upon each rotation of the screw for separating the lowermost cover from the rest of the stack and a single very high pitch part helix feeder groove effective for feeding each separated cover downwardly onto a receiving way during less than one complete revolution of the screw, and a stack supporting ledge portion extending about a part of the circumference of the screw and leading to said feeder groove and the out-oil portion at a level below the top of the screw a distance equal to the depth of a cover edge curl, and said screw also including a gradually descending stack lowering portion leading down from the top of the screw onto the ledge, and means controlled by engagement of fed cans for alternately projecting and retracting said lugs accordingly as the continuity of feeding of a line of cans adapted to receive the covers is broken and then again resumed.

5. In apparatus of the character described, means providing a well in which to receive a stack of covers, a plurality of rotary feeder screws for supporting the stack of covers and feeding the covers one by one from the bottom of the stack, and means for continuously rotating the screws, each said screw including a stack supporting upper surface portion, a cut-off portion engageable between the lowermost cover in the stack and the one above the same upon each rotation of the screw for separating the lowermost cover from the rest of the stack and a single very high pitch part helix feeder groove generally conforming in shape to the peripheral edge curvature of the covers at various horizontal cross sections therethrough and over a material portion of the circumference of each contacting can end and eifective for feeding each separated cover downwardly onto a receiving means during less than one complete revolution of the screw.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 adapted for the feeding of covers having curled peripheral edge portions and wherein each screw includes a stack supporting ledge portion extending about a part of the circumference of the screw and leading to the high pitch feeder groove and the cut-oil portion at a level below the stack supporting upper surface of the screw a distance equal to the depth of a cover edge curl, and said screw also including a gradually descending stack lowering portion leading down from said stack supporting uppersurface onto said ledge.

7. In apparatus of the character described, means providing a well in which to receive a stack of covers, a plurality of rotary feeder screws for supporting the stack of covers and feeding the covers one by one from the bottom of the stack, and means for continuously rotating the screws, each said screw including a central upstanding hub portion and an enlarged base flange extending outwardly beyond said hub portion, said hub portion having a stack supporting upper surface portion, a cut-off portion engageable between the lowermost cover in the stack and the one above the same upon each rotation of the screw for separating the'lowermost cover from the rest of the stack and a single very high pitch part helix feeder groove extending through said hub portion and flange and effective for feeding each separated cover downwardly onto a receiving means during less than one complete revolution of the screw.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim adapted for the feeding of covers having curled peripheral edge portions and wherein each screw includes a stack supporting ledge portion extending about a part of the circumference of the screw and leading to the high pitch feeder groove and the cut-off portion at a level below the stack supporting upper surface of the screw a distance equal to the depth of a cover edge curl, and said screw also including a gradually descending stack lowering portion leading down from said stack supporting upper surface onto said ledge, and said stack supporting upper surface portion, said cut-01f portion, and said stack lowering portion all being formed on a plate member comprising a removable attachment at the top of the screw.

9. In apparatus of the character described, means providing a well in which to receive a stack of covers, a plurality of rotary feeder screws for supporting the stack of covers and feeding the covers one by one from the bottom of the stack, and means for continuously rotating the screws, each said screw including a horizontal stack supporting upper surface portion, a cut-off portion engageable between the lowermost cover in the stack and the one above the same upon each rotation of the screw for separating the lowermost cover from the rest of the stack and a single very high pitch part helix feeder groove effective for feeding each separated cover downwardly onto a receiving means during less than one complete revolution of the screw, said feeder groove being concaved to conform in horizontal cross section to the external curvature of the covers which engage therein over a material portion of the circumference of each contacting can end so that the covers can engage in horizontal line contact in the screw grooves and be held horizontally and against tilting therein as they are being fed.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 adapted for the feeding of covers having curled peripheral edge portions and wherein each screw includes a stack supporting ledge portion extending about a part of the circumference of the screw and lead ing to the high pitch feeder groove and the cutoif portion at a level below the stack supporting upper surface of the screw a distance equal to the depth of a cover edge curl, and said screw also including a gradually descending stack lowering portion leading down from said stack supporting upper surface onto said ledge, each said feeder groove being so shaped as to conform in horizontal cross section to the external curvature of the covers which engage therein so that the covers can engage in horizontal line contact in the screw grooves and be held horizontally and against tilting therein as they are being fed.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 adapted for the feeding of covers having curled peripheral edge portions and wherein each screw includes a stack supporting ledge portion extending about 'a part of the circumference of th screw and leading to the high pitch feeder groove and the cut-off portion at a level below the stack supporting upper surface of the screw a distance equal to the depth of a cover edge curl, and said screw also including a gradually descending stack lowering portion leading down from said stack supporting upper surface onto said ledge, and said stack supporting upper surface portion, said cut-oil portion, and said stack lowering portion all being formed on a plate member comprising a removable attachment at the top of the screw, and each said feeder groove being so shaped as to conform in horizontal cross section to the external curvature of the covers which engage therein so that the covers can engage in horizontal line contact in the screw grooves and be held horizontally and against tilting therein as they are being fed.

12. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of means for feeding cans, a plurality of feeder screws for supporting a stack of covers and feeding them one by one from the bottom of the stack for assembly on said cans, means for continuously rotating said feeder screws, supplementary cover stack supporting members projectable and retractable into and out of stack supporting position, said screws and said supporting members having stack supporting surfaces lying in the same horizontal plane, and each said screw including a positive feeder groove at least in part helical in shape and leading downwardly away from the associated stack supporting surface, means normally tending to project said members for taking over the support of the cover stack from the rotating feeder screws each time there is a break in continuity in the proper feeding of cans and permitting said feeder screws to continue their rotation ineffectually, and means engageable by cans moving with the feeding means for restraining said member projecting means and holding said members retracted.

13. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of means for feeding cans, means including a plurality of feeder screws for supporting a stack of covers and feeding them one by one from the bottom of the stack for assembly on said cans, means for continuously rotating said feeder screws, supplementary cover stack supporting members projectable and retractable into and'out of stack supporting position, said screws and said supporting members having stack supporting surfaces lying in the same horizontal plane, and each said screw including a positive feeder groove at least in part helical in shape and leading downwardly away from the associated stack supporting surface, means engaged by cans moving with said feed ing means for normally holding the supporting members retracted so that the screws will be effective to support and feed the covers so long as proper feeding of cans continues, and means for projecting said supporting members for taking over the support of the cover stack from the rotating feeder screws each time there is a break in continuity in the proper feeding of cans and permitting said feeder screws to continue their rotation ineffectually.

14. Apparatus as defined in claim 13 in which the projectable and retractable members are pivotally mounted, and in which the member projecting and retracting means includes an oscillatable ring having slot and pin connection with the several members off center with respect to their pivots so that movement of the ring in one direction will retract the members and movement of said ring in the opposite direction will project said members. i

15. Apparatus as defined in claim 13 in which the projectable and retractable members are pivotally mounted, and in which the member projecting and retracting means includes an oscillatable ring having slot and pin connection with the several members oif center with respect to their pivots so that movement of the ring in one direction will retract the members and movement of said ring in the opposite direction will project said members, an actuator arm projecting radially from said ring, a rock shaft having a crank and pin connection with the actuator arm, spring means constantly tending to rock the shaft in a direction for effecting a projection of the lugs, and a control lever disposed to be engaged and displaced by passing cans and crank and link connected with the rock shaft for rocking the same in a direction for retracting the members and holding them retracted against the action of the spring means so long as the lever is held displaced by a passing can.

16. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of means for feeding cans, means comprising a plurality of continuously rotated feeder screws for supporting a stack of covers and feeding them one by one from the bottom of the stack for assembly on said cans and including stack supporting surfaces lying in a common horizontal plane, and means for taking over the support of the cover stack from the rotating feeder screws each time there is a break in continuity in the proper feeding of cans and permitting said feeder screws to continue their rotation ineffectually and including stack supporting surfaces lying in the same horizontal plane as the stack supporting surfaces of said screws,

each said screw including a cut-ofi' portion engageable between the lowermost cover in the stack and the one above the same upon each rotation of the screw for separating the lowermost cover from the rest of the stack and a single very high pitch part helix feeder groove generally con- 14 forming in horizontal cross section to the peripheral edge curvature of the covers andefiective for feeding each separated cover downwardly onto a receiving way during less than one complete revolution of the screw.

17. Apparatus as defined in claim 16 in which the covers of the stack have curled peripheral edge portions and each screw includes a stack supporting ledge portion extending about a part of the circumference of the screw and leading to said feeder groove and the cut-off portion at a level below the top of the screw a distance equal to the depth of a cover edge curl, and said screw also including a gradually descending stack lowering portion leading down from the top of the screw onto said ledge. JUSTIN SIMPSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 941,357 Cobb Nov. 30, 1909 962,316 Cobb June 21, 1910 1,070,182 Robinson ,Aug. 12, 1913 1,092,613 Warme Apr. 7, 1914 1,126,194 Graham Jan. 26, 1915 1,128,435 F-oote Feb. 16, 1915 1,158,045 Graham Oct. 26, 1915 1,161,953 Nelson Nov. 30, 1915 1,347,295 Sedwick July 20, 1920 1,348,650 Kronquest Aug. 3, 1920 1,610,862 Kro-nquest Dec. 14, 1926 2,184,029 Wicklund Dec. 19. 1939 

